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Your Tip-Off Guide To March Madness

According to Time magazine, companies lose about $2 billion during the NCAA Basketball Tournament because of low workplace production and lost work hours. If you have plans of playing hooky from work to watch any of the 68 games, at least see some of them live rather than on your TV at home. From the First Four action in Dayton (March 19-20) to the Final Four showdown in Atlanta (April 6 and 8), hoops fever sweeps the country this time of the year. Our basketball-obsessed editors may not be able to help you win your office pool in this unpredictable season—few hardwood scholars predicted Gonzaga would be No. 1 in early March—but we scouted each of the Big Dance’s host cities and have the lowdown on what to do (after the games, of course) and where to stay.

Dayton,Ohio,March 19-20 What To Do: Eight schools fighting for their NCAA lives in the First Four is treat enough over the first two days of March Madness. But if you’re looking for a distraction after the games, look no further than Hotrod Fest, where a collection of 150-plus vintage cars at the Dayton Expo Center should get your mind off the winners and losers, for a minute or two at least. March 22-24, $10.

Where To Stay: Though you may not find a super luxury hotel like a Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton in Dayton, there are plenty of nice spots for you to lay your head. Dayton Marriott is a 399-room hotel—this includes nine spacious suites—that’s just a four-minute drive from the University of Dayton Arena, where the games are held.

Salt Lake City, March 21 and 23 What To Do: If you’re looking for something a bit more interactive than cheering on your team at Salt Lake City’s EnergySolutions Arena, visit The Leonardo. Utah’s newest museum is an experience that weaves art, science, technology and history together. Check out the limited engagement Mummies of the World exhibit, which showcases mummies from Asia, Oceania, South America, Europe and ancient Egypt. $22.50

Where To Stay: While the winsome feel of Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City should be enough to excite you, in the event it’s not, your three-minute drive from the hotel to the hoops venue certainly is. Don’t miss the complimentary wine reception in the lobby daily from 5 to 6 p.m.

MGM Detroit, photo courtesy Curt Clayton Studios

Auburn Hills, Mich., March 21-23 What To Do: Detroit Harmonie, a group aiming to regenerate youthful interest in the Motor City, hosts the third-annual International Experience. The event’s highlight is a “Top Chef Detroit Challenge” with $10,000 going to the winner. March 23, Virgil H. Carr Arts League of Michigan, 8 p.m., $20.

Where To Stay: The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star MGM Grand Detroit may be a 30-minute drive from The Palace at Auburn Hills, but its posh amenities (Four-Star Immerse Spa, Vegas-style gaming) make it well worth the trek. And when you aren’t cheering on your team, you can hit the casino that’s stocked with more than 90 table games and 4,000 slots and video poker machines.

Lexington, Ky.,March 21 and 23 What To Do: In little Lawrenceburg, Ky. (about 30 minutes west of Lexington) sits the Wild Turkey Distillery, a place producing some of the best bourbon the state has to offer. Thirsty fans can enjoy free tours throughout the day and get a taste for what goes into producing Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

Where To Stay: Gratz Park Inn is a charmer right in the heart of Lexington’s historic district. Each of the 41 rooms is outfitted with rich woods, elegant fabrics and regionally produced art for a bit of local flavor. The boutique hotel is just a few blocks from University of Kentucky’s Rupp Arena where the games are played.

San Jose, Calif., March 21 and 23 What To Do: When the sound of your school’s alma mater grows tiresome, make a fast break to San Jose’s California Theatre for Verdi’s Requiem, an orchestral and choral celebration of the famed Italian composer’s 200th anniversary. March 23, 8 p.m.; March 24, 2:30 p.m., tickets start at $38.

Where To Stay: Usually a haven for business groups and lovebirds, picturesque Four-Star CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort has enough bungalows, great golf and fine dining to share with basketball fans, too.

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